Sweet Peas

[HarryBerry]

Coming along nicely in my greenhouse but when is the earliest I should plant these in the ground?

[Two_Sheds]

Sweet peas are hardy, so they cope with cold weather OK. That said, they've lived all their lives in a nice warm(ish) gh with no wind to contend with, so harden them off for a week or so until they go out for good.

Mine are still a bit weedy, so they'll stay in my cold gh for another month I reckon.

Make sure you nip the tops out too, to encourage bushy growth and more flowers.

[HarryBerry]

Yeah I have just done that, many thanks for your answer

[shirleycox]

I started my sweet peas in pots and transplanted them shortly after they had their true leaves. They transplanted well but stalled for a bit and are now just taking off. I still have a batch of others in pots that were planted the same time and still waiting to be transplanted. They are far more healthy looking and bushier than the ones I transplanted. Perhaps because they have been babied.
Just take care when transplanting and if you have slugs in your area protect your transplants as soon as they're in their new spot. Keeping them in the whiskey barrel and adding something for them to climb would probably be the best idea.

[Peas'n'Kews]

We had left-over sweat pea seeds last year and I just chucked the seeds in our front hedge (which has only just been planted, so not thick!). They grew just fine right up until about Nov, so I guess they must be pretty hardy.

[piskieinboots]

Loving that idea P'n'K - and your name

[salome2001]

what do people plant them in? I have a couple of rustic stone planters in the front garden but they're only about 5-10cm deep and I don't know if they'll need deeper roots. I've got Old Spice Grandiflora.
(I know nothing about flower gardening, got them as freebie seeds or I wouldn't be bothering to grow them )

[piskieinboots]

They are so worthy of the space IMO - I plant into the garden and grow them up netting along a fence, over an arch, up a pole, in fact anywhere that I can

[salome2001]

but will 5-10cm deep of soil be enough? or should I put them in a plastic pot/ trough?

[piskieinboots]

I would say no, not deep enough, they would need masses of watering and food - but hopefully someone will come along who has successfully managed this.

[salome2001]

plastic tubs it is then

[ann-the-nan]

Sweet Peas

I grow mine in toilet roll cores and I can put 6 in a (large) Stork margarine tub. (Other margarines in plastic tubs are available - ) Then they live on west-south-west facing window ledges. I then harden them off in the garden under bottom-cut-upturned pop bottles. So far, its worked alright for me. I do a lot of my other veggies that way as well.....good if its something you don't want to disturb the roots of.

[HarryBerry]

I cut the tops of coke bottles (2l) or similar and stick 'em in there. Seems to work.

[rustylady]

but will 5-10cm deep of soil be enough? or should I put them in a plastic pot/ trough?

Don't you have any open ground at all to grow them in?

[Alison]

I start mine off in root trainers then transplant them into open ground where they share wigwams with French beans at the lottie. I also have some perenial ones growing up an obilisk in the garden, must go and check those as am guessing they'll need tying in soon as it's been so mild.